Xcel Energy’s natural- gas customers in Colorado will see a slight increase in bills in September compared with the same month a year ago, but bills will be much lower wen compared with August.
The company’s proposed monthly natural-gas commodity price for residential and small-business customers for September is up about 7 percent from a year ago, but down 54 percent from August.
The utility passes commodity costs directly to consumers without taking a profit or loss. As such, these proposed changes are generally approved quickly by regulators.
Xcel said Friday that it has adjusted its forecast for bills for the winter heating season because of the drop in the commodity price of natural gas. Company spokesman Mark Stutz said heating bills will be 10 percent to 30 percent higher than a year ago for the winter, down from previous estimates of 30 percent to 50 percent higher.
